St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-20
CAPT. LEWIS IN JAIL.
The Milbank Editor Reaches
Philadelphia - His Alleged

Philadelphia - His Alleged
Crime.
Special to the Globe.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 19.-Capt. A.
II. Lewis, or Henry S. Volkmar, as he
has been known here, a leading citizen
of Milbank. Dak., and a member of
Gen. Church's staff, is in jail here to-
night on charge of arson, committed
eleven years ago. He arrived this even
ing accompanied by Detective Weyl,
Who went West to capture him. lie
was met at the station by his sister and
his counsel. His movements have been
well known to his relatives here and
the meeting between him and his
sister was atfectionate but calm.
He said that the knowledge
that he had fed the jurisdiction of the
court had followed him always, and he
was glad he was at last to be brought
face to face with the charge. He de-
clared that he is not guilty. Acting
under advice of his counsel. however,
he declined to make formal statement.
The true story of the case is this:
Henry T. Volkmar, as he was known in
this city until he fled from the uri S.
diction OF the court of quarter sessions,
was young man of about twenty-five
years of age, engaged in the publication
of greenback newspaper i'll the
third story of the Evening Star
building here. On the first of May
1915. about 1890 in the morning, fire
broke out on Volkmar'S floor. Its early
discovery and the prompt arrival of the
fremen prevented cOnfiagration, al
though Y olkmar'S machinery was dam
aged and the floors below were satur-
ated with water. VOlkmar resumed
business again, and was paid 81 ,029 by
the insurance companies for his loss,
and affairs seemed to run smoothly until
the end of the year. At midnight on
the 31st of December, 1875, when Chest
nut street was filled with eXultant thou
sands who had come from all portions
of the city TO chorus a welcome to the
centennial year when the old bell
should toll the hour, an alarm of fire
rang out and smoke and flame
shot out from third story
window of the Star building,
the identical spot of the fire of eight
months previous. A man from the
neighboring gas office and some of those
who had come down town to join in the
festivities, broke in the door and man
and his wife who kept an. eating house
down stairs were got out in safety and
the fire was extinguished with loss of
$1,000. A powder fuse and other evil
denceS of incendiariSm were found,
and as Volkmar was the last man seen
coming out of the building before the
fire he was arrested next day by the
fire marshal. Volkmar's arrest caused
SOMEWHAT OF A SENSATION.
He was respectfully connected. quiet
young man and leader in certain set
of fashionable society. All were i'll
dignant at the arrest. VOlkmar was
held to answer the charge of arson, and
few days later his counsel had him adj
mitted to bail by Judge Pierce in the
sum of $1,000. This was the last seen
of VOlkmar. Nothing new was heard
learned that at Milbank, Dak., there
was living prominent citizen, a news
paper publisher, one Alfred II.
Lewis. and that this man was
no other than Volkmar. He was
running newspaper successfully, the
Grand County Review, had considerable
influence in the county and was men,
ber of the Governors staff. Upon re-
ceipt of this information Weyle was
sent West and captured him. Detective
Weyle:eXpressedg great sympathy him,
and allowed him to talk in private with
his sister and counsel for nearly an
hour before locking him up. He says
that Valkmar was the idol of his town,
and if he had chosen to be ObstreperouS,
he could have made a great deal of
willingly, however, although Mr..
Weyle's paper had not been signed by
Gov. Church, of Dakota. He told his
wife, whom he married in Dakota years
ago, of his troubles before he had mar
ried her. She stood by him to the end
and advised him, he says, to come East
Mnd stand his trial.